Panel-mounted switch

ABSTRACT

A switch housing adapted to be mounted in an opening formed in a wall panel having a construction comprising complementary case and cover, each providing an inner structural configuration by which various switch actuators resulting in different conventional operations of the switch components, may be accommodated. The switch components employed with the various actuators comprise spaced apart terminals fixedly mounted in the switch housing, a combination terminal and pivot post for a switch blade, and a coil spring overcentering mechanism. The switch housing provides external yieldable arms by which the switch may be fixedly positioned in the opening formed in the wall panel, with the actuator exposed for ready operation.

United States Patent Bedocs 1 July 4,1972

Cherry Electrical Products Corporation, Highland Park,lll.

(22] Filed: Oct. 23,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 83,497

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl ..200/168 C, 200/172 R [51] lnt.Cl. ..H0lh 3/12 [58] Field otSearch ..200/168 C, 168 R, 153 LA, 172R 1 S(,| References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,339,050 8/1967 Mitchell ..200/l68 C 3,412,225 11/1968 Rogers et a1. ..200/168 C 2,415,297 2/1947 Linton ..200/172 R X Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones ArtorneyEdward C. Threedy [57] ABSTRACT A switch housing adapted to be mounted in an opening formed in a wall panel having a construction comprising complementary case and cover, each providing an inner structural configuration by which various switch actuators resulting in different conventional operations of the switch components, may be accommodated. The switch components employed with the various actuators comprise spaced apart terminals fixedly mounted in the switch housing, a combination terminal and pivot post for a switch blade, and a coil spring rive-reenter ing mechanism. The switch housing provides external yieldinble arms by which the switch may be fixedly positioned in the opening formed in the wall panel, with the actuator exposed for ready operation.

4 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 4 m2 SHEET 2 0F 2 11V MENTOR: M IOHAEL E 350003 1- z's A TTORNEX- PANEL-MOUNTED swtrcn SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A panel-mounted switch housing having an escutcheon type front wall mounted in and closing an opening formed in a wall panel in which the switch is mounted. Movably projecting through the switch housing is a switch actuator by which normal operation of the switch components can be achieved. The switch housing is constructed from complementary casing sections, each of which provide an internal construction by which a variety of switch actuators can be accommodated within the switch with which the actuator affords a difierent mode of switch operation.

Each casing section of the switch housing provides cooperating grooves and wall abutments for the pom'tioning and retention of the switch components as well as guiding ribs, a spring seat, and a stop finger, all of which cooperate with the various switch actuators for accomplishing the different modes of switch operation.

In switches of this type, the most common modes of operation required are a momentary push button operation, a pushpull type of actuator, and a combination momentary push-pull and holding actuator. The switch housing of this invention will accommodate various switch actuators and their components by which these described switch functions can be achieved.

The switch construction of this invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which there is shown the preferred form of construction and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panel-mounted switch housing;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the panel-mounted switch with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the switch shown in FIG. 2 in a first actuated position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to the switch shown in FIG. 2, but in a second actuated position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the actuator utilized with the switch shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sleeve insert utilized in the switch shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 8 is an end view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a panel-mounted switch similar to that shown in FIG. 2, but having a different switch actuator;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the switch shown in FIG. 9, in an actuated position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the actuator utilized in the switch shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a switch similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, but having a different switch actuator;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the switch shown in FIG. 12, in an actuated position;

FIG. I4 is a perspective view of the switch actuator utilized in the switch shown in FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. I5 is a plan view of the switch cover of the type used in switches shown in FIGS. 2, 9 and 12; and

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the switch casing which is complementary to the cover shown in FIG. I5.

In a panel-mounted switch 10, as shown in FIG. I, there are employed a number of switch components which include fixed terminals 11 and 12, as well as a combination terminal I3 and pivot post 14, to which one end of a switch blade 15 is pivotally connected by a coil spring 16 that extends between the blade 15 and a pivot lever I7 which is also pivoted to the pivot post 14 as shown in the Figures of the drawing heretofore described. These switch components are uniform throughout all of the panel switches hereinafter described, and their mode of operation is the same and is of a type wellltnown in the art.

To correctly position the switch components hereinbefore identified, the switch I0 is housed within a switch casing 18 (see FIG. 16) which includes an escutcheon type front wall I9 which provides an opening 20 therein. The side wall 21 of the casing 18 has formed therein two parallelly extending grooves 22 and 23 which extend through the rear wall 24 of the casing 18. The grooves 22 and 23 will receive one edge portion of the fixed terminals 11 and 12, respectively. Grooves 25 and 25a are provided in the wall 21 of the casing 18 for receiving the side edge portions of the pivot post 14.

A cover 26 is provided for the casing I8 and it provides parallelly extending grooves 27 and 28 which, when the cover 26 is placed on the casing 18, will receive the opposite side edges of the fixed terminals 11 and 12 to maintain the same in their prescribed positions. The cover 26 also provides grooves 29 and 290 which cooperate with the grooves 25 and 250 formed in the casing 18, to receive and frictionally hold the opposite side edges of the pivot post 14 when the switch is assembled.

Both the casing 18 and the cover 26 provide an inner complementary recess 30 and 31, respectively. Portions of the recesses 30 and 31 are defined by partially abutting wall sec tions 32 and 33 formed within the casing 18, and wall abutments 35 and 36 formed within the confines of the cover 26, which, when mated, form guides for the switch actuator which is associated with the switch.

The casing I8 also provides along its opposite elongated side walls yieldable retaining fingers 37 and 38. As will be noted in FIG. 16, these fingers 37 and 38 are connected to the innermost end of the casing 18 and extend toward the escutcheon type front wall 19 and terminate short thereof. The ends of the fingers 37 and 38 that are spaced from the front wall l8 19 are serrated as at 39 in an arcuate path as shown, such that when the switch is assembled and projected into an opening formed in a panel 40, the serrations will engage the edge of the wall defining the opening, to mount the panel switch therein.

When the mode of operation of the switch having the general construction hereinbefore described, is desired to be of the momentary actuation type with a manually operated position feature, the actuator such as shown in FIG. 5 is employed. This actuator 41 comprises an elongated hollow tubular body 42, one end 43 of which is angularly recessed to pro vide a finger grip portion 44. The opposite end of the actuator 41 provides laterally extending ribs 45 which are adapted to be positioned in the recesses 30 and 31 formed in the casing 18 and cover 26 and be guided between the facially abutting wall members 32, 33 and 35, 36 (FIGS. 15-16).

The inner bore of the actuator 41 has formed in its periphery, locating slots 46 which are adapted to receive elongated raised wall members 47 formed on the periphery of a hollow sleeve member 48. The hollow sleeve member 48 is provided with a base flange 49 which is of a size to fit between the confronting wall portions of the casing I8 and the cover 26 when mated as hereinbefore described.

The actuator 41 adjacent its inner end has a portion of its periphery notched as at 50, which notch is adapted to receive the curved end portion 51 of the pivot lever 17 of the switch components.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve member 48 is positioned within the actuator 41, which in turn is positioned through the opening 20 formed in the front panel 19 of the casing I8 with its ribs 45 positioned. between the wall abutrnents 32, 33 and 35, 36, respectively. A compression spring 52 has one end positioned in a recess seat 53 formed in the rear wall 24 of the casing 18 and has its other end in facial contact with the inner closed end of the hollow sleeve 48.

From the foregoing description, the complete assembly of the switch is shown in FIG. 2. When the actuator is manually pushed inwardly through the opening 20 formed in the wall 19, the pivot lever 17 will ride out of the notch 50 as shown in FIG. 3, effecting overcentering of the switch blade 15, causing the same to pivot between the fixed terminals 11 and 12. This movement of the actuator 41 will also impart like movement to the sleeve 48 against the compression spring 52, so that by removal of the external force on the actuator 41, it will immediately return to its unactuated (mid or neutral) position shown in FIG. 2. However, in the event that the circuit in which the switch is arranged is desired to be tested, the switch may be actuated and maintained in an actuated position by the forcible movement of the actuator 41 in a direction out of the opening formed in the front wall 19, as seen in FIG. 4.

By such movement, the pivot lever 17 again moves out of the notch 50 to a position where it overcenters the switch blade 15, and such movement will remain as long as the actuator 41 stays in the withdrawn position. The movement of the actuator 41 in such withdrawn position is independent of the movement of the sleeve 48 which has been arrested by a stop 54 provided within the cavity of the switch casing 18.

It should be noted that movement of the actuator 41 in either direction is guided by the wall abutments 32, 33 and 35, 36, cooperating with the ribs 45, all of which has heretofore been described.

Utilizing the same switch components and exchanging the switch actuator 41 for a switch actuator 55 having the construction shown in FIG. 11, the mode of operation of the switch is one of just momentary actuation. When such mode of operation is desired, the actuator 55 which provides peripheral guide ribs 56, is placed within the switch casing 18 and it has its inner end chamferred as at $7 to provide actuating contact with the curved end 51 of the pivot lever 17 of the switch components. A compression spring 58 is utilized which extends into the inner bore of the actuator 55. Thus, when the actuator 55 is depressed as shown in FIG. 10, it will actuate the switch components and, upon release thereof, it will assume its inactivated position shown in FIG. 9.

If a positive on-olf actuation is required, the switch of this invention may include a switch actuator 59 which is similar to the actuator 55 shown in FIG. ll, except that its free exposed end is provided with an annular recess 60 so that the same may be conventionally gripped by the fingers of the operator. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, there is employed no spring, so that the actuator 59 will remain in any position into which it is moved. Thus, in FIG. 12, it is in an actuated position with the curved end 51 of the pivot lever 17 riding on the tapered edge 61, while in FIG. 13, when the actuator 59 has been manually pushed inwardly of the switch, the switch is actuated in the manner hereinbefore described. This switch will remain in its actuated position until the actuator 59 is manually withdrawn and returned to the position shown in FIG. 12.

It should be noted that in all of the actuator constructions hereinbefore described, the outward movement of each actuator is determined by the engagement of the external peripheral guide ribs formed thereon which will engage the wall surface which defines the opening 20 formed in the front wall 19 of the casing 18. This prevents any of the actuators from being completely withdrawn from the switch housing. As these guide ribs also travel between the cooperating abutting wall sections 32, 33 and 35, 36, they are prevented from having axial rotationv Thus, the notched actuating areas 50 and 6] of the actuators are at all times maintained in contact with the curved end SI of the switch components.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have disclosed a panel-mounted switch housing which includes a minimum number of switch components that will perform their desired functions resulting in different modes of operation of the switch achieved through the employment of different types of actuators, all of which are readily operatively associated with the switch components and within the switch housing.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect b Letters Patent is:

l. A panel-mounte switch having a housing for the switch components including an open-sided casing provided with an escutcheonlike front plate having an opening through which an actuator plunger projects, and a side cover for closing the casing, and yieldable fingers provided by the casing and extending in the direction of and terminating short of the front wall thereof by which the housing is mounted on a panel, wherein the improvement comprises a. an elongated hollow actuator plunger having an inner end portion of a length less than the depth of the housing so as to be reciprocally movable axially therethrough,

b. a sleeve having a closed end freely joumalled in said plunger and an enlarged base flange seated against the open inner end of said plunger within the housing,

c. a coil spring having one end seated within the housing and projecting longitudinally into said sleeve to bear said base flange thereof against said plunger to maintain said plunger in one position within the housing and for yieldably resisting movement of said plunger in one direction therethrough,

d. means provided by said casing in contact with said one side of said flange of said sleeve for preventing movement of said sleeve with said plunger when the latter is moved axially in another direction through the housing,

e. said plunger providing on the periphery of said inner end portion a relieved surface positioned to receive a movable end of one of the switch components when the plunger is in said one position relative thereto and for moving the same to actuate the switch upon axial movement of said plunger into other positions responsive to the direction of its movement through the housing,

f. means provided by the casing and side cover extending parallel and to either side of said plunger for guiding the same during its reciprocal axial movement in either direction within the housing,

g. and means provided by said plunger on its inner end portion for cooperating with said guiding means for guiding said plunger during its axial movement through the housing and for preventing rotation thereof about its axis during its axial movement so as to maintain said relieved portion in position to receive the movable end of one of the switch components when said plunger is in said one posi tion within the housing.

2. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim 1 and ineluding means provided by said sleeve for maintaining axial alignment of said sleeve within said plunger when said plunger is moved in another direction through the housing and said sleeve is prevented from moving therewith by said means provided by said casing in contact with said flange of said sleeve.

3. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim I wherein said means provided by the casing and said side cover for guiding the plunger, comprises spaced wall abutments extending parallelly to the axis of the opening provided by the front plate of the casing and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plunger, with said wall abutments being spaced apart to receive therebetween the means provided by said plunger that cooperate with said wall abutments for guiding said plunger in its axial movement.

4. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said plunger cooperating with said guiding means, comprise longitudinally extending ribs laterally projecting from the periphery of said plunger to either side of said means that is provided by said plunger for operatively actuating the switch components, with said ribs being of a width to pass between said guiding means provided by the casing and said side cover, so a to guide the plunger and prevent axial rotation thereof during its axial movement relative to the switch components.

i i i t 

1. A panel-mounted switch having a housing for the switch components including an open-sided casing provided with an escutcheonlike front plate having an opening through which an actuator plunger projects, and a side cover for closing the casing, and yieldable fingers provided by the casing and extending in the direction of and terminating short of the front wall thereof by which the housing is mounted on a panel, wherein the improvement comprises a. an elongated hollow actuator plunger having an inner end portion of a length less than the depth of the housing so as to be reciprocally movable axially therethrough, b. a sleeve having a closed end freely journalled in said plunger and an enlarged base flange seated against the open inner end of said plunger within the housing, c. a coil spring having one end seated within the housing and projecting longitudinally into said sleeve to bear said base flange thereof against said plunger to maintain said plunger in one position within the housing and for yieldably resisting movement of said plunger in one direction therethrough, d. means provided by said casing in contact with said one side of said flange of said sleeve for preventing movement of said sleeve with said plunger when the latter is moved axially in another direction through the housing, e. said plunger providing on the periphery of said inner end portion a relieved surface positioned to receive a movable end of one of the switch components when the plunger is in said one position relative thereto and for moving the same to actuate the switch upon axial movement of said plunger into other positions responsive to the direction of its movement through the housing, f. means provided by the casing and side cover extending parallel and to either side of said plunger for guiding the same during its reciprocal axial movement in either direction within the housing, g. and means provided by said plunger on its inner end portion for cooperating with said guiding means for guiding said plunger during its axial movement through the housing and for preventing rotation thereof about its axis during its axial movement so as to maintain said relieved portion in position to receive the movable end of one of the switch components when said plunger is in said one position within the housing.
 2. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim 1 and including means provided by said sleeve for maintaining axial alignment of said sleeve within said plunger when sAid plunger is moved in another direction through the housing and said sleeve is prevented from moving therewith by said means provided by said casing in contact with said flange of said sleeve.
 3. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by the casing and said side cover for guiding the plunger, comprises spaced wall abutments extending parallelly to the axis of the opening provided by the front plate of the casing and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plunger, with said wall abutments being spaced apart to receive therebetween the means provided by said plunger that cooperate with said wall abutments for guiding said plunger in its axial movement.
 4. A panel-mounted switch as defined by claim 1 wherein said means provided by said plunger cooperating with said guiding means, comprise longitudinally extending ribs laterally projecting from the periphery of said plunger to either side of said means that is provided by said plunger for operatively actuating the switch components, with said ribs being of a width to pass between said guiding means provided by the casing and said side cover, so as to guide the plunger and prevent axial rotation thereof during its axial movement relative to the switch components. 